The European Centre for Byzantine and Postbyzantine Monuments, on the occasion of the completion of the project “Olkas. From Aegean to the Black Sea. Medieval Ports in the Maritime Routes of the East” organizes a special event in Athens. The project was funded by the European program: “Joint Operational Programme BLACK SEA 2007-2013” and national resources and was implemented by the EKBMM with the cooperation of 8 institutions, museums and universities from 6 countries: the Cultural Center of Thessaloniki (Greece), the Istanbul University and the Cultural Awareness Foundation (Turkey), the Varna Regional Museum (Bulgaria), the National Museum of History and Archaeology from Constanta (Romania), the Branch for the Hellenic Foundation for Culture in Odessa (Ukraine) and the National Research Centre for Georgian Art and Heritage “G. Chubinashvili” (Georgia) . In the project did participate as associate partners: the “Russian National Committee for the Black Sea Economic Cooperation” (Russia), the Committee for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage (Ukraine), the Institute of Archaeology of the Romanian Academy (Romania) and the Administration of the State Historical – Architectural Reserve “Icherisheher” (Azerbaijan). 

The aim of the project “Olkas” was the documentation and the touristic promotion of 45 medieval ports as a modern tool of development of cultural tourism in the regions of Aegean, Black Sea and Caspian Sea. The project has carried out the systematic recording of the history and the culture of 45 ports in the data base of EKBMM (www.olkas.net, www.ekbmmdb.gr), the production of a documentary film, the display of a photographic exhibition in Thessaloniki, Istanbul, Odessa, Simferopol and Constanta, the implementation of educational programs and theater games on the topic of the Black Sea ports, the publishing of touristic leaflets, the organization of an International Symposium in Thessaloniki and, the publication of its Proceedings as well as of a cultural guide.

During the event will be presented the results of the project, and more specifically, the two published books: The Proceedings of the International Symposium: “Medieval Ports in North Aegean and the Black Sea. Links to the Maritime Routes of the East” and the cultural guide: “40 Medieval city-ports in North Aegean and the Black Sea. A cultural guide”). In the 2nd part of the event will take place the screening of the documentary film: “Olkas. Discovering Medieval Ports in North Aegean and the Black Sea”, in which all the ports included in the project will be presented.

The event will take place in Athens (Auditorium: “G. Kranidiotis”, Ministry of Foreign Affairs), on the 18th of June 2014, under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Information:
Flora Karagianni
Scientific Coordinator of the “Olkas” project
European Centre for Byzantine and Postbyzantine Monuments
Leoph. Stratou 2, 54640, Thessaloniki
Tel. 2310 889839
Fax: 2310 853078
www.ekbmm.gr , www.olkas.net
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